Critic Reviews
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Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
Those hungering for rare footage of our cousins playing and foraging, fighting or fleeing are in for a number of treats.
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Alonso Duralde, The Wrap
Of course, if you're a fan of old-school Disney True-Life Adventure tales like "Joker: The Amiable Ocelot," then you're used to this sort of sanitizing of the world's rougher edges.
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Rafer Guzman, Newsday
Walt Disney himself couldn't have scripted "Chimpanzee" any better.
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Lou Lumenick, New York Post
Resurrects some of the worst traits of the studio's True-Life Adventures series of the 1950s, '60s and '70s, dubiously shaping some amazing footage with cornball narration that relentlessly anthropomorphizes its simian subjects.
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Tom Long, Detroit News
It's really a wonder of nature, a reminder of how we are bound to other species and how valuable and special and downright magical their lives are. It may be a bit corny at times, but it's also downright enlightening.
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Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
One wonders whether more than a few viewers won't want to take home a baby chimp after seeing the film.
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Andy Lea, Daily Star
It's beautifully photographed, whimsically narrated by Tim Allen and keeps completely schtum about the rough sex and the cannibalism.
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Alistair Harkness, Scotsman
As a primate primer for the younger end of the family market, Chimpanzee does a good job of inspiring awe in our closest cousins and doesn't stint on harsh "circle of life" lessons ...
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Philip French, Observer [UK]
The presentation makes one wince, and the most striking footage is some behind-the-scenes shots that accompany the credits.
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Tara Brady, Irish Times
Chimpanzees share 96 per cent of our DNA and a common Pan Prior ancestry. We'll bet they're embarrassed to admit as much when they see this.
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Graham Young, Birmingham Mail
With no sign of Tarzan there's little genuine drama in Chimpanzee and this film probably won't save any rainforests, but it's heartfelt, beautifully shot and you'll never use a nutcracker without thinking of little Oscar.
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MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
Cuteness proximity alert! Cuteness proximity alert!
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Derek Malcolm, This is London
Words (narration by Tim Allen) and syrupy music let it down but it's still great to watch.
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Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
The final five minutes give location interviews with the hardworking camera crew, and this is the only time when this plasticky film comes alive.
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Nigel Andrews, Financial Times
Even by the standards of sentimental nature documentaries, Disney's Chimpanzee borders on the pathetic.
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Jennifer Tate, ViewLondon
The chimpanzees play to their stereotype in this charming documentary that's beautiful to watch and often funny, however Tim Allen's jovial voiceover can be rather irritating after a while.
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Elliott Noble, Sky Movies
Clever editing enhances the drama, while time-lapse sequences and crystal-clear photography complete a captivating picture of jungle life.
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Damon Smith, Birmingham Post
Linfield and Fothergill, colleagues from the BBC Natural History unit, who worked together on the series Planet Earth, remain cheerful throughout. Their passion for Mother Nature shines through in every frame.
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Paul Gallagher, The List
Scenes of chimps bending and weaving tree-branches to create makeshift beds, or the touching moments of Oscar's first attempt to climb a tree unaided will provoke wonder and fascination in adults and children alike.
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Olly Richards, Empire Magazine
Gives us a hero to root for, but it's not coy on the tougher side of the natural world either.
Read all 26 critic reviews
Featured Audience Ratings
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For Oscar, every day is an adventure.
Good Disney Nature movie! Gorgeously filmed and just the right length to keep smaller ones from getting bored, I was amazed at the footage that the filmmakers got of these chimps. I am one of those who has trouble leaving the primate area of the… More
For Oscar, every day is an adventure.
Good Disney Nature movie! Gorgeously filmed and just the right length to keep smaller ones from getting bored, I was amazed at the footage that the filmmakers got of these chimps. I am one of those who has trouble leaving the primate area of the zoo and it does make you marvel at their similarities with humans.You'll feel like you just went on a trip to the rain forest of Africa, and I can't imagine a child or teen not liking this. Or an adult for that matter.
Oscar, a baby chimpanzee is enjoying his life with his mother in the jungles along the Ivory Coast. Without warning, young Oscar is tragically orphaned during an attack from a rival group of chimpanzees. Afterwards, he attempts to survive on his own, and to be accepted by the other chimps. But Oscar struggles, until he is surprisingly adopted by the Alpha Male of his group.
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This was really great. Rather snarky narration for a disney flick. Beautifully filmed and you'll only tear up a little bit. Probably.
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Chimpanzee unabashedly goes after all the cheap and sappy gimmicks a nature doc can to try and please its audience and for the most part it has succeeded in that regard. After a fairly impressive start to their annual Earth Day naturedoc entry, Disney has struggle as of late and… More
Chimpanzee unabashedly goes after all the cheap and sappy gimmicks a nature doc can to try and please its audience and for the most part it has succeeded in that regard. After a fairly impressive start to their annual Earth Day naturedoc entry, Disney has struggle as of late and Chimpanzee was an attempt to right the ship. The film currently stands as the fourth highest grossing documentary of all-time (never underestimate the power of cuteness) so financially it was a success, artistically however, not so much. I was interested in the story of the rival Chimpanzee tribes and their quarrels over the nut groves but once the adorable orphaned Oscar gets adopted by the gritty and cold tribe leader I started loosing interest in a hurry. The film is also narrated by Tim Allen which demands the question of "Why?". There are, I promise you, dozens if not hundreds of far more entertaining and informative documentaries of Chimps out there but Chimpanzee does have impressive HD camera work and if Oscar's just too darn adorable to avoid for you there are certainly worse ways to spend an hour or so of your time than checking out Chimpanzee.
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A wonderful Earth Day gift from Disneynature. Chimpanzee is touching, enjoyable, and features incredible jungle footage with the neon mushrooms and the slowed down rain fall being the highlights. Chimpanzee is a great family film that's gentle enough without watering down the… More
A wonderful Earth Day gift from Disneynature. Chimpanzee is touching, enjoyable, and features incredible jungle footage with the neon mushrooms and the slowed down rain fall being the highlights. Chimpanzee is a great family film that's gentle enough without watering down the brutality of the animals' lives. Overall Rating: 84
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With the recent collection of Disneynature films (African Cats, Oceans, Earth, etc.), they have added another film into the mix, which dives into the lives of chimpanzees. Can Chimpanzee carry the legacy of Disneynature's films? One thing it does well is that the cute charm of… More
With the recent collection of Disneynature films (African Cats, Oceans, Earth, etc.), they have added another film into the mix, which dives into the lives of chimpanzees. Can Chimpanzee carry the legacy of Disneynature's films? One thing it does well is that the cute charm of the chimpanzees might woo you in. It's one of the films main strengths, and you actually feel for the main character Oscar, and his antics throughout the film. The film is also pretty funny and has its fair share of surprising things you might notice. Tim Allen also does a good job as narrator, giving the chimpanzees character in certain situations. It is quite short at 72 minutes but the film makes use of its limited time, showcasing everything chimpanzees need to thrive and survive. Overall, a very pleasant family film, with some comedy, suspense and emotional moments thrown in.
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Enjoyed this more than the other Disney Nature film (Oceans) but this one suffers as did that one from exquisite cinematography marred by crappy script and lackluster narration. Does anyone really go to see Chimpanzee to hear Tim Allen's voice? Next time Disney needs to throw… More
Enjoyed this more than the other Disney Nature film (Oceans) but this one suffers as did that one from exquisite cinematography marred by crappy script and lackluster narration. Does anyone really go to see Chimpanzee to hear Tim Allen's voice? Next time Disney needs to throw more $ at script and less at talent. Nevertheless it was great spending 80 minutes with Oscar and the gang. (5-20-12)
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Cute little documentary about an adorable Chimp named Oscar.
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The story of Oscar and his "community" (aka family/tribe) definitely sucked me in and it's fascinating the way that Chimpanzees use tools to do things. One thing I could done less with was Tim Allen's narration, I kept picturing him as "Tim 'The Tool… More
The story of Oscar and his "community" (aka family/tribe) definitely sucked me in and it's fascinating the way that Chimpanzees use tools to do things. One thing I could done less with was Tim Allen's narration, I kept picturing him as "Tim 'The Tool Man' Taylor." It's solid film though if you're looking for something to take the whole family to see.
Read all 8 featured audience ratings
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